Virtual Reality – The Future of Online Gambling?

January 23, 2017

Online casinos have come a long way since the first virtual casino opened its doors some 20 years ago. Back in the 90s, even the best online casinos featured inadequate graphics, poor sound and minimal gaming settings.

Twenty years on, it is clear that online casino games have evolved into a complete 360-degree experience. Players can now experience HD quality graphics, crystal clear sound, sweeping sound effects and animation sequences that rival the likes of Disney and Pixar. Even the introduction videos have become miniature animated films topping off the whole experience.

VR Online Casino Technology

With the introduction of live dealer casino games, online casinos have taken the next step towards creating a virtual online gambling environment. While it may seem like we have reached the peak of technology, the truth is that we are only getting started. In the world of online gambling, the newest kid on the block is the VR headset. Virtual Reality technology has been around for a number of years. With increasing technological developments and serious cost reductions, the days where everyone owns a VR headset might be closer than you think.

How Does VR Work?

In 2016, the sale of Virtual reality headsets, 360 degree cameras and associated accessories brought in revenues of around 5 billion US Dollars this year alone. Over the next five years, this number is expected to rise to a whopping 50 Billion US Dollars. The online gambling industry is expected to become one of the biggest markets for these devices. So what is virtual reality and how would it work for online gambling? Virtual reality is a computer generated world that players can enter and interact with by wearing a VR-helmet. The helmets themselves are equipped with multiple HD screens and a built-in surround sound system.

The Release of VR Games

Imagine walking through the doors of a casino and being able to fully interact with the slot machines and table games while still never leaving your living room. This is what virtual reality casinos can offer. Once a player puts on the VR-headset, they can become fully immersed in a virtual world and interact with the casino using hand movements or a controller. If you are wondering when the technology will be available, the answer is right now. As of 2016, virtual reality online casinos have officially gone live. Backed by some of the biggest names in the business, virtual reality casinos and games have already been released to the public with surprising success.

Looking at The Future

A recent study by Juniper Research revealed that gross wagers from virtual reality headsets have already reached 58.5 million US Dollars. Over the next five years, this number is expected to grow by 800%, bringing in more than $520 million by 2021. The high demand for live dealer casinos is a clear sign that players are looking for a more realistic and all-encompassing casino experience. Virtual reality casino games will completely revolutionise the way players gamble online. With traditional live-dealer casinos, players interact via the integrated software. Virtual reality technology could provide another dimension by including facial recognition and hand gestures into the game.

Meanwhile, technology giants Facebook and Samsung are betting that VR will become even more affordable and commercially available in the next few years. With huge investments in the pipeline, major online casino developers have already started releasing VR online casino games designed to be used with the Oculus Rift VR unit. No matter which way you look at it, the future of online gambling seems inexplicably tied up with virtual reality. If mobile gambling is anything to go by, virtual gaming could become extremely popular in a very short amount of time.